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Technical Inquiry Service

Welcome to the FASB’s Technical Inquiry Service. The FASB staff provides this service to help people understand FASB standards. We welcome hearing from you because your question may help us identify ways we can make our accounting standards easier to use and understand.

The following links have been provided to guide you to the appropriate portion of this website for further instructions on submitting a question.

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The objective of the FASB’s Technical Inquiry Service is to clarify existing guidance or provisions within the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (Codification).

How do I submit my question?

Questions are submitted electronically by completing the FASB Technical Inquiry Form. To help us in providing a timely answer to your question, please be as specific as possible by first reading the related FASB literature and focusing your question on the specific literature for which you need clarifying guidance. Additionally, we will be better able to respond to your question if you seek the advice of others within your organization and consult with your independent auditors, if applicable, before submitting your question. The FASB is a not-for-profit organization and, as such, we have limited resources available to respond to questions.

The following steps should be used as a guide in forming and submitting your question.

Obtain and read the applicable Codification Topics or Subtopics.

Formulate your question and discuss with the most senior accountants in your organization (typically the controller or chief accounting officer of a company or the partners, technical advisory partners, or national office of a public accounting firm).

Discuss the question with your independent auditors, if applicable (your auditors should request the assistance of their technical advisory partners or national office if necessary).

If after consulting with your most senior accountants and independent auditors you still need clarifying guidance, complete the FASB Technical Inquiry Form. When finished, click the SUBMIT button at the bottom of the page to send your inquiry to the FASB.

If you have any further questions about how to fill out the FASB Technical Inquiry Form, please call Joe Damico at (203) 956-5336 or email him at techinq@fasb.org.

When can I expect an answer to my question?

You can expect a response within two weeks, but it may take longer depending on staff availability and the nature of your question. The FASB staff addresses inquiries in the order that they are received.

How will I get an answer to my question?

The staff responds to inquiries and will usually ask that you have your auditor or senior technical partner participate in the conversation.

The FASB staff may not respond in writing. Please also note that the FASB staff's responses are the staff’s opinions in light of the particular circumstances described by the inquirer and should not be viewed as an official position of the FASB. Official positions of the FASB are established only after extensive deliberation and due process.

Application of generally accepted accounting principles is the responsibility of a company's management. As such, the FASB staff is prohibited from making subjective judgments for constituents or acting as an arbitrator on any issue (for example, a dispute between a company and its auditor).

If you are a member of the media, please contact a member of the FAF Communications team. A team member promptly will ensure that your press inquiry is directed to the appropriate FASB member or staff member.

The FASB staff does not provide guidance on general accounting or auditing matters (for example: How do I account for…? or Can you tell me where…?). However, the AICPA responds to general accounting and auditing questions through its AICPA Accounting and Auditing Hotline. The AICPA Hotline is a free service for AICPA members; members typically receive a response within 24 hours. You can reach the AICPA Hotline by calling (888) 777-7077.

Because the FASB does not establish auditor independence requirements, the FASB staff cannot answer questions about auditor independence. For assistance with your question about auditor independence or ethics, please contact the AICPA Ethics Hotline at (888) 777-7077.

The FASB does not establish or interpret SEC Rules and Regulations or SEC filing requirements. For assistance with your question, please contact the Securities and Exchange Commission at (202) 942-4400 (Office of the Chief Accountant).

The FASB does not promulgate or interpret federal, state, or local tax rules and regulations. For assistance with your question, please contact the Internal Revenue Service or your state or local taxing authority.